Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Anthony Lee. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Anthony, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

For years, I enjoyed reading books, especially thriller novels, which included medical thrillers because I have a medical background (having gone through medical school before choosing a different career path). I’ve read enough to not only understand the conventions and nuances of medical thrillers, but also feel inspired to write my own.

Sometime in 2021, I became super excited about the possibility of writing and publishing my first medical thriller novel, with big dreams of being a bestselling author. On my laptop at a corner desk, I spent months drafting and perfecting my book. I had tried to get a literary agent to represent me, but I had no takers. So I decided to self-publish instead. Then it was a matter of hiring my own professional editor to take a look, along with a graphic designer to put together the book cover based on my specifications. I was especially thrilled to have an advanced copy of my paperback book shipped to me and display it alongside thriller novels I own. The joy of being an author really soared once the book became available for sale on Amazon and other retailers..

As for royalties from selling copies, it’s not much, certainly nowhere close to what the most popular authors earn. But you know what? I repeatedly tell myself to just focus on my writing and enjoy the storytelling process, because the money should follow if I keep my creative endeavors going.

The entire process of producing a book, from creating the first draft to selling the final copy to readers, requires months of effort and commitment, but it’s something that I’m always eager to do. So far, I have written two books that have sold copies, garnered positive reviews, and even won a few awards. The photos I am sharing here are related to the creation of my second medical thriller novel called Toxic Minds, which follows my debut titled Doctor Lucifer, but they represent the beginning and end of the process for each book I write.

Anthony, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For my background before launching into book writing, here is what I wrote in my official author bio: “Anthony Lee has a unique background in medicine. After graduating from medical school, he switched from clinical medicine to health technology assessment, analyzing new medical tests and treatments in a career spanning over 15 years.”

As for getting into the craft of writing books, it’s something that I had taught myself, simply by reading a lot of books and checking out writing advice from various sources. Then I just dived right into writing my first book and then learned about the ins and out of self-publishing.

Even with only two novels so far with a third under development, I have forged a unique identity for the genre I am writing for. I am a novelist of the medical thriller genre that is defined by authors such as Robin Cook, Michael Crichton, Tess Gerritsen, and Michael Palmer. But I don’t write books that are just like older works of that genre. I boldly present a new take on the medical thriller. Anyone who has read medical thriller books knows that many stories traditionally featured things like virtually flawless healthcare professionals as protagonists, science gone wrong, and villains who are often members of the medical and scientific community doing unethical things. My medical thrillers, on the other hand, involve the intersection of the world of medicine and society at large, presenting ways in which major societal ills disrupt routine healthcare delivery. This forces my antihero doctor protagonist to solve crises using both his skills as a physician and his bravery as an unconventional sleuth. If there are any fans of medical thrillers who would appreciate some new life injected into the genre, I would like to offer the stories I’ve written.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

With each novel I write, I take great pride in telling a story that pretty much nobody else in the world has ever told. A story that is original is surely to garner more interest than one that’s been told before, especially countless times before. So each time I brainstorm a new story idea and am unable to find a published novel that already explored it the way I do, I become excited to tell the story. It’s a chance for me to share something unique with the world.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

We have only one life. It’s best to live in a way that makes our life meaningful. The way to do that, in my opinion, is to do something that you’re passionate about while also leaving something positive or beneficial for others.

For me, I love to write because I really enjoy letting my imagination run wild. With this, I can churn out stories that entertain readers while also making them think. That’s what I see as my contribution to the world. And that’s what feels meaningful to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.anthonyleebooks.com

Image Credits

Anthony Lee